On Balance

The Talent Pipeline in Education: Room to grow. Needs to be met.

In this episode of On Balance Dr. Berger spends time with Jadd Martinez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jadd-martinez-993236b/] of Amergis to learn more about staffing shortages across education and beyond those that we hear about in the headlines. Jadd Martinez joined Amergis Educational Staffing [https://www.amergiseducation.com/] in 2003 and has spent the majority of his career in educational staffing. With a focus on consultation and collaboration, Jadd helped Amergis expand from a handful of markets with a singular offering, to a widely diversified, nationwide leader in the K-12 staffing industry. Jadd has a passion for education, and with a young daughter approaching school age, he'll be spending much more time in the classroom!

On Balance with Rachel Byrne Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Rachel Byrne, Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation [https://www.yourcpf.org/] (CPF), joins host Dr. Rod Berger [https://www.drrodberger.com] to learn more about CP and the educational opportunities to impact individuals, families, educators, and organizations driving CPF's mission. More than 17 million people globally are living with Cerebral Palsy (CP), making it the most common lifelong physical disability. Yet, it has been historically overlooked and underfunded. Few people are aware of the impact access to early detection can have on patient lives. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ireland, backed by $12.5 million from notable donors, including John and Patrick Collison, Rachel is combining the worlds of health and tech. CPF will collaborate with universities and healthcare institutions to pilot and implement crucial research areas, paving the way for nationwide advancements in CP care. In this episode Dr. Berger and Rachel look at: The critical role of early intervention in improving outcomes for people with brain injuries like CP. Steps she's taking to increase awareness and support for CP public policy, research, and investments on a global scale. The Foundation's approach to investing in research to inform implementation. Rachel Byrne is the Executive Director at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. She has been working in the field of pediatric rehabilitation and cerebral palsy research for over a decade. Rachel has a background in physical therapy, with a particular interest in neuroplasticity and motor learning. Her early career as a clinician delivering physical therapy services in schools, hospitals and private practice is underpinned by her research interests focused on knowledge translation and the impact on a person’s ability to participate in the community across the lifespan. At the Foundation, she has continued her research interest in evidence-based practice, knowledge translation, early detection and interventions across the lifespan and population studies for cerebral palsy. Rachel was instrumental in developing the Just Say Hi inclusion curriculum which is now being taught nationally. In the last 12 years she has given multiple presentations at international conferences and managed large multisite research projects.

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Karin Klein Discusses Her Latest Book, Rethinking College

Check out the latest episode of On Balance as Dr. Rod Berger [https://drrodberger.com] takes a deep dive into higher education through the lens of award-winning journalist Karin Klein and her latest book, Rethinking College - A Guide To Thriving Without A Degree [https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-College-Thriving-Without-Degree-ebook/dp/B0CC8NJZC4?ref_=ast_author_mpb]. "A valuable reassessment of America's educational system." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY What if you didn't have to go to college? You may have heard that a college degree is the only path to success. But many college graduates end up mired in debt and underemployed, working jobs that don't even require a degree. The good news? Many promising career options exist for those who don't want to or can't attend college. In Rethinking College [https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-College-Thriving-Without-Degree-ebook/dp/B0CC8NJZC4], award-winning journalist Karin Klein sets out a new path for our country's students and their families. Klein examines why the traditional college-for-all model has been overhyped and is growing less relevant, then shares practical advice and real-world examples of exactly how others have succeeded without a four-year degree. Discover many alternative paths, including white-collar apprenticeships, certificate programs, entrepreneurship, creative careers, residential public-service work, and more. Klein will guide you step-by-step toward a broad range of fulfilling and well-paid careers that don't require a degree—ranging from pilots, costume designers, influencers, writers, computer programmers, corporate headhunters, film editors, and so many more. The breadth of possibilities is wider than you think! Rethinking College is perfect for: * Those who are unsure of their next education or career steps. * Those looking to make a job pivot. * Parents seeking guidance for their child. * School counselors who want to offer their students more and better options.

On Balance with Chirag Tailor: The Nuts & Bolts of Entrepreneurship

As a graduate teaching assistant at Georgia Tech, CEO & Co-Founder of Instructify [https://www.assignguard.com/] Chirag Tailor worked on designing educational technology to improve the quality of online education. After entering the industry, he continued volunteering with the Georgia Tech EdTech Lab [https://sites.gatech.edu/etl-lab/] led by his advisor, Dr. Thad Starner. [https://www.cc.gatech.edu/people/thad-starner] The tools designed by Chirag & Dr. Starner were widely used by the College of Computing as they scaled up their Online Masters in Computer Science and became critical to instruction during the pandemic. In 2021, Chirag founded Instructify to build a robust commercial offering of these tools, assist institutes of all sizes in transitioning to online education, and leverage advances in artificial intelligence. Instructify's noted technology, TALIA (Teaching and Learning Intelligent Assistant), helps students manage large courses by answering student queries in preferred discussion boards. Chirag [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctailor/] continues to answer the technology 'bell' with practical solutions. If the past is a predictor of the future...Chirag is just scratching the surface of what's to come. Chirag is an entrepreneur in the truest sense - a thoughtful problem solver who isn't afraid of digging into the unknown to find solutions for all.

On Balance with Claire Smith and Krissy Taft: The Power of Recognition

Spotlight on Recognition: Enhancing Education with Hilight's [https://www.hilightedu.com/] Claire Smith and Krissy Taft Welcome to "On Balance," the podcast where we delve into the world of education, technology, and entrepreneurship through inspiring and insightful conversations. I'm your host, Dr. Rod Berger [https://www.drrodberger.com/], and in this episode, we are thrilled to feature the co-founders of Hilight, Claire Smith and Krissy Taft. Today, we uncover the fascinating journeys of Claire and Krissy as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of being women in the tech industry. Claire shares her experiences overcoming isolation and self-doubt, while Krissy reveals her evolving passion for computer science and her mission to encourage young girls to explore STEM fields. Together, they discuss the subtle barriers that dissuade girls from STEM and the innovative ways they are working to change that narrative. We'll delve into the evolution of their company, Hilight [https://www.hilightedu.com/partnerships-and-awards], a powerful tool designed to recognize and amplify the efforts of teachers and school communities. Claire and Krissy also discuss how data and AI can provide valuable insights for school leaders, making a substantial impact on school culture and morale. With their unique blend of confidence and humility, our guests emphasize the importance of finding one’s voice and maintaining balance as entrepreneurs. Join us as we celebrate their commitment to making a difference, their well-deserved recognitions, and their ongoing journey to support and inspire the next generation. This is an episode you won't want to miss Timestamps 00:00 Passionate founders of education tech startup Hilight. 05:03 Loves career switch and parallels in industries. 07:30 Technology simplifies innovation, focuses on essential. 12:42 Analyzing challenges, integrating technology, and its magic. 14:29 Aligning core values to school mission's effectiveness. 17:31 Excited about data and potential for AI. 23:44 Chrissy overcame obstacles in tech industry. 25:41 Supporting girls in education and sports strong. 29:48 CEO roles, brand association, finding voice development. 31:40 Overcome pressure with confidence and humility. 34:23 Closing chapter of "On Balance" Connect with Claire Smith  Website: https://www.hilightedu.com/ [https://www.hilightedu.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-margaret-smith/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-margaret-smith/] Connect with Krissy Taft Website: https://www.hilightedu.com/ [https://www.hilightedu.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krissy-taft/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/krissy-taft/]